University of Southern California Marshall School of Business MBA Essays & Analysis 2025 - 2026

University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business has released its MBA application questions for 2025 - 2026. The questions have changed for this year’s application cycle.  Last year’s Essay 2, which revolved around teamwork, has been removed from the application.

Here are USC Marshall’s MBA application essays for the 2025 - 2026 application cycle. 

Essay 1

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from USC Marshall help you achieve those goals? Short-term career goals should be those you want to achieve within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (400 words)

This is your classic, all-inclusive career goals essay. 

Use this essay structure to explain the context behind your goals, state them, and describe how you will use your USC Marshall MBA to achieve them. 

1. Context: Start by explaining the “why” behind your goals. Use a story in the SCAR format to provide context for why you decided to pursue your career path, and where you want to go from here. 

2. Goals: Clearly define your short-term and long-term goals. Be specific about the role, company, industry, and location you want to be in. Your longer term goals can be more ambitious, but they should link to the skills and experience you will gain in your short-term goal. 

• Short-term goal (3–5 years post-MBA): Identify the role, company type, and geography you’re targeting. For example, “I plan to join a strategy consulting firm like Bain or BCG in Los Angeles, where I’ll focus on healthcare clients.” Adding details about the type of problems you want to solve (e.g., scaling healthtech solutions, optimizing hospital operations) makes your plan feel more grounded.

  
  

• Long-term goal (10+ years out): This can be bolder. Maybe you see yourself leading strategy at a Fortune 500 company, founding your own startup, or running an impact-driven organization. The key is to connect it back to your short-term plan. Show how the experience and skills you’ll gain early on will eventually prepare you for the bigger vision.

3. Why USC Marshall: Once you’ve stated your goals, steer the essay towards exploring how USC Marshall resonates with you. Mention the specific courses, electives, specializations, faculty, and research centres that will aid your plans. Describe any conversations you’ve had with alumni or current students with similar backgrounds to get more incisive information on the opportunities and resources available at USC Marshall, and how these will play into your career journey. A short line like “In my conversation with a second-year student who interned at Amazon, I learned how Marshall’s global alumni network provided a direct link to recruiting opportunities” shows that you’ve done your homework. Research (both online and offline) is key here. 

What to include:

• Academic resources: Mention electives or concentrations that will sharpen your skill set (like the Finance and Business Economics specialization, or courses in data-driven decision-making).

• 
  

• Centers and labs: The Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab are strong fits for entrepreneurs and social impact–minded applicants.

• 
  

• Networking opportunities: Marshall’s location in Los Angeles offers direct access to industries like entertainment, real estate, healthcare, and technology. You can emphasize the value of its strong ties to the Southern California business ecosystem.

  
  

• Clubs and competitions: Consulting Club, High Tech Association, or global case competitions can be mentioned. However, you should always explain how you’ll use these opportunities, not just mention them in passing.

Wrap up the essay with a forward-looking close. Reinforce the idea that your goals are the next logical step in your career journey. Marshall should come across as the perfect fit: a school that gives you the tools, network, and perspective to transform your vision into reality.

Deepak

Harsh

Jasmin

Vibhav

Chinenye

Sejal

Elie

Optional Essay

We realize that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories, and we’d like to recognize each individual’s unique qualities and experiences. Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider when reviewing your candidacy for the MBA program. (word limit: 500)

Here, you can discuss any defining personal experiences that have shaped who you are. This could an unusual life circumstance, mental health, finances, or any other extenuating information that may paint a more authentic and strong picture of you to the AdCom. But don’t ramble on; provide the context as quickly as possible and then describe how it has shaped your values, perspective, and experiences. Make sure that this information is incremental and relevant to your application. 

Note that if you’re a first-time applicant to Marshall, this essay is optional. Don’t add information here just because you have an extra 500 words to work with. You may also discuss topics like employment gaps, a low undergraduate GPA or GMAT/GRE scores, or any criminal records or expulsion from school. Don’t make excuses! Be direct and brief in explaining these, and explain how you have worked on these issues since.

Reapplicants, this essay is not optional for you! Use it to show you’ve grown since your last attempt. The admissions team wants to see progress, so the strongest reapplicant essays go beyond simply saying “I’ve improved my skills”. They point to clear, concrete updates: maybe you earned a promotion, stepped into a leadership role, took on more responsibility at work, boosted your GMAT/GRE score, or made meaningful contributions outside the office. Just as important, explain how these changes have influenced your career goals or strengthened your determination to pursue an MBA at Marshall.

It also helps to show how you’re approaching the application differently this year. Perhaps you’ve done a deeper dive into Marshall’s programs, clarified your career vision, or sought out feedback to refine your essays and recommendations. Sharing this reflection signals self-awareness, resilience, and commitment: traits that business schools consistently value.

---

You might also want to check out our USC Marshall MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into USC Marshall's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024, and tips to ace your interview.

We help determined applicants get admitted to top business schools. Get in touch if you think we can help you with your MBA application. Book a free 20 mins chat now.